North West 200 'will be back stronger than ever in 2022' says Glenn Irwin

The event was cancelled for the second successive year due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the organisers describing the decision as the “only responsible course of action”.

Carrickfergus man Irwin, who clinched his fourth straight win in the blue riband class on the north coast at the 90th anniversary meeting in 2019, says he fully supports the cancellation of the 2021 race.

The announcement serves as a further blow to the sport after the Tandragee 100 was called off last week, while every national road race in the Republic of Ireland has been cancelled, with the exception of the Skerries 100.

The Cookstown 100 – the only Irish road race held last year – has once again been postponed until September, raising the possibility of Armoy hosting the first event of the decimated season at the end of July.

Although these are worrying times for Irish road racing at national level, Irwin – whose Isle of Man TT debut is also on hold until 2022 – expects the North West to bounce back with a vengeance in 16 months’ time.

“I certainly don’t think that this second cancellation jeopardises the North West because the riders will all support it when it returns and we all want to race there,” he told the News Letter.

“In fact it might actually return better than ever because it’s an opportunity to reassess everything and plan ahead, and it will be so nice when we are able to go back there again and actually shake someone’s hand or have a selfie with the fans.”

The British Superbike contender is naturally disappointed to miss the chance of competing around the 8.9-mile ‘Triangle’ course for the second year, but Irwin said there was an air of inevitability around the official announcement on Wednesday, when the historic race meeting was cancelled for two years running for the first time since WWII.

“I think there was a lot of hope for a positive announcement but obviously we were being kept in the loop over what was happening and we always sort of knew what was coming,” he said.

“Obviously it is gutting to miss the North West 200 for a second year because it’s my favourite race of the year and it’s an event I love. I actually would love to be a part of this event one day when I eventually stop racing because it’s just very special to me.

“But it was the right decision, 200 per-cent. There is nothing more valuable than anyone’s life and we have to protect people and also protect ourselves, and by doing that we protect the event,” added the 30-year-old.

“The worst thing we could do is force the event through this year and then risk a backlash afterwards and negativity if it caused a rise in cases, which it probably would.

“Look, the way I’m looking at it is that the race will come around again in 16 months and with the vaccine rolling out, I think we can more safely say that it will happen in 2022.”

Irwin has established himself as the man to beat in the Superbike class at the North West and he remains intent on fulfilling his goal of equalling the premier class win record of Joey Dunlop and Michael Rutter in years to come.

“By the time the North West comes around again in 2022 I’ll still be just 32 because my birthday is in March, but I’ve got time to chase the only record I would love to have at the event and that’s to be on par with Michael Rutter and Joey Dunlop with nine Superbike wins.

“The big bike races are the ones I really care about and although I love watching all the races, as a rider those are the ones that I get a kick out of because the aura around the Superbike races and the big occasion brings the best out of me.

“So my goals haven’t changed in that respect and if there are three Superbike races each year then that gives me plenty of opportunities throughout my thirties and even into my forties.”

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